Own a unique piece of artwork

A chance to own a unique piece of artwork created by a notable artist or writer is on offer through an exciting exhibition hosted at Teesside University.

Actor and writer Stephen Fry and North Yorkshire artist and curator Greville Worthington are among a diverse range of celebrated individuals who have been invited to create work for the Paint Her to Your Own Mind exhibition.

Exhibition visitors can bid to own each of the 147 exhibits through an auction, without knowing who created the artwork as all identities are hidden.

The Laurence Sterne Trust, which is behind the exhibition, invited 147 contributors to create work in response to a blank page in 200-year-old humorous novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.

Published in nine volumes, the first two appearing in 1759 with others following over the next seven years, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman purports to be a biography of the eponymous character.

Sterne’s intention with the blank page of the book - page number 147 - was to stimulate the reader to complete the page by creating their own representation of beauty.

Work created by the artists to complete this blank page with their own creations can be seen at the University’s Constantine Gallery until Monday 24 October.

Other participating artists and writers also include Norman Ackroyd, John Baldessari, Jérémie Bennequin, Nancy Campbell, Maura Dooley, Ian Duhig, Neil Gaiman, Tom Gauld, Patrick Hughes, Tom Phillips, Martin Rowson, Wendy Saunders, Lemony Snicket, Carolyn Thompson, Momoyo Torimitsu and Alison Wilding.

Rachel Dodd, from the University’s School of Design, Culture & the Arts said: 'It is really accessible lots of things can seem very complicated, but as there are lots of bite-sized pieces of work, ranging from very traditional things that you would expect to things which are a bit more contemporary.'

The works available for auction can be viewed and bids made here

Short video about the exhibition.

More information about the exhibition, which can be seen in Leeds later this month.

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